Hi,Frame and pump are original, the rest is NOS / new, paint is original, bit muddy from this morning, just under 20 mph over a little less than 50 miles in Devon, 3.5 kg rucksack, next ride the saddle will be back a bit and up a bit, gearing is coming down on top end too.6 speed cassette is crucifying I bought it new in early 83, £345.

Image Attachments

If You Don't Try You Don't Do.....Don't Do You Don't Get...I'm Still Trying....Well Very..You'll Find Me At The Top Of A Hill...............Somewhere...After Dark..

1996 Marin Hawk Hill bought locally on "pre-loved" for £40.00..not a high end model, but a reasonable Tange cromoly frame and mainly alivio/acera bits....here it is after I stripped it down and rebuilt with new cassette, chain, rear wheel and seat and good 2nd hand Alivio chainset...it rides really nicely and will be used for work duties once a set of Big apples arrive in the post!

It's been a while since I last posted here. It's actually been ten years since I joined the forums and excitedly posted pictures of my new Mercian. To celebrate its 10th birthday I've splashed out on some new kit: Nitto Randoneur bars, a Velo Orange Gran Cru chainset and a couple of VO bottle cages which I much prefer to more modern cages. Here it is this afternoon by the shore of Morecambe Bay moments before I decided that it really is too hot to be riding and turned homewards to find the ice cream shop.

In addition to the lovely Mercian, I picked up this bargain last week: A 2010 Specialized Hardrock. It needed virtually no work – A new rear tyre and brake blocks plus the platform pedals were broken. Other than that it's in near-perfect condition, and it cost me just £25.00 from a local charity shop. I was only looking for a pub bike.

hoppy58 wrote:1996 Marin Hawk Hill bought locally on "pre-loved" for £40.00..not a high end model, but a reasonable Tange cromoly frame and mainly alivio/acera bits....here it is after I stripped it down and rebuilt with new cassette, chain, rear wheel and seat and good 2nd hand Alivio chainset...it rides really nicely and will be used for work duties once a set of Big apples arrive in the post!

Colin63 wrote:It's been a while since I last posted here. It's actually been ten years since I joined the forums and excitedly posted pictures of my new Mercian. To celebrate its 10th birthday I've splashed out on some new kit: Nitto Randoneur bars, a Velo Orange Gran Cru chainset and a couple of VO bottle cages which I much prefer to more modern cages. Here it is this afternoon by the shore of Morecambe Bay moments before I decided that it really is too hot to be riding and turned homewards to find the ice cream shop.

I very much like

Disclaimer: Treat what I say with caution and if possible, wait for someone with more knowledge and experience to contribute.

That's lovely, I can't think that anyone would object to it not being original, it certainly looks like it's ready to fulfil it's original purpose and being good for the next 26 years should make all Raleigh fans happy.

That's gorgeous!Just how mountain bikes used to be before all this 650b and 29er crap came along.

Bring back the 26" mountain bike I say!

Ha ha thanks..it is lovely....however I hate to say it, but I prefer the ride of my rigid Genesis Longitude 29er especially off-road as (in my opinion) the big wheels and rubber smooth out the bumps much better and I feel it also climbs much better and is faster overall. The marin is 'nimbler' though and makes a great 26" tourer/utility bike, the latter of which is its intended use. Here it is now, updated as a shopping/work bike!